Sunday, October 9, 2016

TRIAL ON FRENCH PANAMA CANAL MISDEEDS ENDS

The Sentences
of Charles de Lessups and M. Blondin Comparatively Light—M. Baihaut to Lose His
Civil Rights, Pay 760,000 Francs and Go to Prison for

Five
Years—De Lesseps Reaffirms His Innocence.

PARIS, March 22.—Charles de Lesseps, accused
of corrupting ex-Minister of Public Works Baihaut to support the Panama lottery
bonds bill, has been found guilty by the jury. Baihaut, who confessed his guilt,
has also been found guilty, and Blondin, who acted as go-between in the bribery
of Baihaut, has also been found guilty. All the other defendants are acquitted.
These are Mariua Fontane, Panama canal director; Sans-Le Roy, ex-deputy, who
was accused of changing his vote in committee on the Panama bill as the result
of bribery; Senator Beral, accused of being bribed by Baron Reinach, and
Deputies Dugue, de la Fauconnerie, Gebrod and Anton, who were accused of corruption.

The court, after deliberation, sentenced M.
Baihaut to imprisonment for five years, to pay a fine of 750,000 francs and to
the loss of civil rights.

M. Blondin was sentenced to imprisonment for
two years and Charles de Lesseps to imprisonment for one year, the one year to
run concurrently with the five years' sentence already imposed on him.

All three of the convicted prisoners were condemned
to pay the costs and damages demanded by the civil parties to the proceedings.

The sentences of Charles de Lesseps and Blondin
were made comparatively light on the ground of extenuating circumstances.

The court has also ordered M. de Lesseps, M.
Blondin and M. Baihaut to pay to M. Monchicourt, liquidator of the Panama Canal
company, 875,000 francs, the amount taken from the treasury of the company and
paid to M. Baihaut for his influence in favor of the lottery loan bill.

Charles de Lesseps received his sentence calmly,
although the strain of the trial has rendered him exceedingly haggard and
nervous. When he rose before the retirement of the jury to reaffirm his
innocence, he spoke with difficulty. He told the jury with apparent earnestness
that he had always tried to do his duty as a director of the company and that
where he had erred in judgment he had at the time supposed that he was acting
for the best interests of the canal and of the state.

He repeated briefly his charges of extortion
against M. Baihaut and alluded with genuine emotion to the troubles which had
overtaken his father. In his testimony he had told the truth and his conscience
was clear of self-reproach.

President Grover Cleveland.

PAGE
FOUR—EDITORIALS.

The
Democrats on Trial.

The Democratic party is now in full
possession of the government. For the first time in thirty years it holds the
president and both houses of congress. It is almost the first time, too, within
that period that it has professed to have an affirmative policy. During most of
the long struggle since the war its attitude has been simply one of negation
and obstruction. It resisted reconstruction and the financial measures of the
Republican party without having anything else to propose. It was the party only
of objection and opposition.

But with its return to power it is pledged
to positive and aggressive action. It is pledged both by its criticisms of
Republican fruits and by its promise of Democratic improvement. It did not
merely content itself with denouncing protection, but gave assurances of
something better. The conditions under which it comes to supremacy are such as
will subject it to the severest trial. It takes the reins after the greatest
period of prosperity which the country has ever enjoyed. If this abounding
prosperity shall not be fully maintained, if the country shall pass from the
bloom of universal activity and success to blight of uncertainty and dullness the
Democratic party will suffer.

But it must do more than keep up our recent
standard of prosperity. In order to vindicate their claims and sustain their
assertions they must, therefore, show three distinct results: First, they must maintain
the prosperity which prevailed during the past two years; second, they must
cheapen general prices; third, they must increase wages, or at least keep them
undiminished while they are cutting down prices and profits.

This is the task that the Democratic party
and administration have set before themselves. They must overthrow all
protective duties and establish a strictly revenue tariff, and at the same time
maintain our business prosperity. They must throw open our market to increased foreign
imports and at the same time keep labor fully employed. They must compel a
lowering of prices without lowering wages. Unless they can accomplish all of
these results they will stand convicted of obtaining power under false
pretenses.

These are the tests which, by their own
challenge, will be applied to Democratic results. It is a self imposed trial
which the party cannot stand.

What is to become not only of Canada, but of
England herself? The financial depression of Canada is equaled if not exceeded
in Great Britain. In spite of improvements cheapening the cost of manufactured
goods, in spite of the fact that America has taken hundreds of thousands of
Great Britain's poor off her hands annually, at this time industrial statistics
show the record of 23 people in every 1,000 as paupers. At the same time
returns from the British trades unions show that oftheir members one in every ten is out of work.

Palmer
on Gresham.

Some of the Anti-snappers recently inquired
of Major General Irving H. Palmer, of the Hill Unconditionals, what he thought
of the appointment of Judge Gresham as secretary of state.

"I am tickled to death by it,"
replied the general. "I had been living in the horrible apprehension that
Cleveland would appoint Bill McKinley or Tom Reed or some other such fellow to
the place. Now I can breathe easier."

The Anti-snappers have been scratching their
heads ever since to make out whether "Irv" had really become a Cleveland
man.

[This political barb refers to
local attorney Irving Palmer, a registered Democrat and former two-term, non-consecutive
president of the village. He lived on James Street—CC editor.]

The Erie
&Central New York.

A meeting of the stockholders of the Erie & Central New York railroad was held at 11 o'clock this morning at the
office of Irving H. Palmer. George H. Holmes was chosen president and H. M.
Kellogg secretary of the meeting. Messrs. C. P. Walrad and C. W. Stoker were
appointed as tellers. The following directors were then elected:

At a subsequent meeting of the directors the
following officers were elected for the ensuing year:

President—W. D. Tisdale.

Vice-President—C. P. Walrad.

Secretary—H. M. Kellogg.

Treasurer—James S. Squires.

Attorney—Irving H. Palmer.

Inspectors of Election—C. P. Walrad, C. W.
Stoker, F. H. Cobb.

The directors voted to take the necessary steps
to extend the charter of the railroad for ten years.

A
Beauty.

Engine No. 5 pulled in the 10 o'clock train
south this morning. This is the first time it has been out since eight weeks
ago when it was laid up for repairs caused by the driving rods breaking and
threshing parts of the cab into kindling wood. New shafts, fire box and four
new wheels have been put on and with new brass trimmings and a coat of paint on
the cab it makes the finest engine on this division. Engineer Henry G. Tibbits
and Fireman George Musvaumer are very proud of their pet and they have every
reason to be.Masonic emblems are cut in
the brass band around the smokestack which are clearly discerned quire a
distance away.

On Monday evening the Masonic lodge of this
village had a very interesting time working the third degree for Dr. C. B.
Trafford. The district deputy of Syracuse was present and about 30 members of
the order from Cortland, Whitney's Point and Lisle. After the ceremonies at the
lodge room closed the party convened at the Marathon House, where mine host
Tarbell did himself credit in preparing an elegant spread for the banqueters. After
feeding the inner man, and enjoying themselves socially for a few hours the
party disbanded, each one bearing away only praise for the successful termination
of the evening and expressing himself as well pleased.

Dewitt Lynde is buying and carring potatoes.

Burgess & Ryan are rushing the bob calf
business at present. They shipped 80 from
here on Monday evening by express. They dress them in the Chapman building just
opposite the freight house.

Editor Adams of The Independent has been adding a new desk to his sanctum. It is a
typewriter desk and adds much to the equipment of his office.

Tuesday was the day for our charter election
and so little interest was taken that only 29 votes were cast in all. Editor
Adams was elected mayor (?) by 29 majority, while the members of the common
council each received the same majority.

Dr. C. B. Trafford's niece of Syracuse is
spending a few weeks with him and her grandmother.

Commissioner L. F. Stillman made a business
trip here last Friday and attended the closing exercises of the winter term of
the academy.

New maple sugar is beginning to come into
market but in rather small quantities.

There seems to be an epidemic of severe colds
here at present and the physicians are kept busy. Several children are sick with
pneumonia.

Homer
Department.

Do not forget the lecture, "Moral Courage,"
in the Methodist church by Mr. H. L. Gleason of Cortland tonight. He is an
entertaining speaker and his subject will interest you.

A tin shingle roof is being put on the freight
house of the D., L. & W. station.

A coat of oil on the floor of Mr. Phillip Zimmer's
barber shop adds not a little to its fine appearance.

Mr. Bert Johnson of the Scott hotel was
calling on friends in town yesterday.

Mr. George I. Crane, under the present administration,
has been accepted by the state board of agriculture as authority on potatoes.

The Lynn, Mass., Daily Bee says: "Frank
Jones, the well-known 'Si Perkins,' opened a two nights' engagement at the
Music hall Friday evening, presenting his new play 'Our Country Cousin.' The
piece is one of the best that Mr. Jones has ever given to the public, and in
his character of 'Jason Wheatly,' Mr. Jones keeps the audience in laughter all
the time; more especially in the second act, which represents his first
appearance in the city. The railroad scene at the stone quarry is an exciting one,
and the mechanical arrangements were all that could be wished. The company supporting
Mr. Jones is a strong one." This company will appear at Keator opera house
soon.

The program of the phonographic entertainment
to be given in the opera house Saturday evening for the benefit of the Epworth
league of the Methodist church will include selections played by Gilmore's
famous band; U. S. Marine band of Washington, D. C.; Baldwin's cadet band of
Boston; Jules Levy and Walter Emerson the world renowned cornetists. Also
piccolo, banjo, clarinet, flute and xylophone solos and songs and quartettes by
eminent musical artists. There will be short selections and funny stories by
noted humorists and the sounds from nature made by animals, birds, etc., are
nearly perfect. The management promise a very high grade entertainment. The quality
of the musical selections are of a high order and particular pains have been
taken in selecting an unusually fine instrument to impersonate them.

The Telephone
Fifty Years Ago.

The first telephone that was ever used was
not electrical, nor was it a scientific instrument in any sense of the term. A little
more than 60 years ago the employees of a large manufactory beguiled their
leisure hours by kite-flying. Kites large and small went up daily, and the strife
was to see who could get the largest. The twine which held them was the thread
spun and twisted by the ladies of the village. One day to the tail of the largest
kite was attached a kitten sewed in a canvas bag, with a netting over the mouth
to give it air. When the kite was at its greatest height—200 feet or more—the
mewing could be distinctly heard by those holding the string. To the clearness of
the atmosphere was attributed the hearing of the kitten's voice. This is the
first account we remember of speaking along a line.—Sheffield Telegraph.

—The halls and stairways in the Collins and
Welch building leading up to Grand Army
hall are to be re-kalsomined in tints. George W. Roe will wield the artistic
brush.

—In police court this morning Charles Sears
was discharged with a reprimand and George Rosa was sentenced to ten days in
the county jail. Both were up for public intoxication.

—The remainder of the carriages, sleighs and
harnesses of the late D, Edgar Crouse [Syracuse] were disposed of at auction yesterday
and brought very large prices. The sale of household goods is in progress
to-day, and to-morrow the bric-a-brac and vases will be disposed of.

—The Tully band gave a grand concert last
night at Slayton Opera House in Tully
under the management of Mr. John Ryan of Cortland. Miss Nettie Stout, and
Messrs. A. J. Stout, Fred I. Graham, and William Wager of Cortland took part as
soloists, and Miss Mertie B. Myers acted as accompanist. The affair was a grand
success and $30 were cleared. —About thirty members attended the Republican
league meeting in the Grand Central block Monday evening. In the absence of
President Noah J. Parsons, Mr. C. T. Peck occupied the chair. Some brief but
interesting speeches were made by Mr. Peck, John H. Phelps, Jerome Squires and
others, after which the meeting was adjourned till Monday evening, April 3.

—The sheriff's sale of the Cortland Top and
Rail Co. was announced for yesterday. Previous to the time of the sale H. L.
Bronson, attorney for the Cortland Harness and Carriage Goods Co., served an
injunction upon Sheriff John Miller and upon John Bennett, representing the
Chemung Valley bank, restraining the sale for twenty days. The Top and Rail Co.
hope to get a hearing upon this order inside of twenty days and so postponed
the sale until April 3. In case it is not possible to get the hearing, the sale
cannot occur till the expiration of the twenty days.

[We copy
articles as they were printed, past rules of grammar included—CC editor.]